When it comes time to replace the head gasket in my EL (hoping don't have to). Anyway, if I put an AU head gasket in, will it fix the problem of the weak EL Head gasket? How much should I pay to have this done, if I dont do it myself

Yes and no. Yes the head gasket is stronger than the e-series one, but from what I have seen there is a good % of repeat head gasket failures that are caused by reusing head bolts or not completely cleaning and machining the surfaces (the AU gaskets are more prone to problems if the head and block are not in good condition). So, yes the AU head gasket is better, but if the job isn't done right it will probably leak before an e-series gasket will.



There can be a HUGE variance between what workshops charge to fix a gasket so its best to phone around your local area, get quotes and ask what they do for the $.

If you were to do it yourself you would expect to pay $30 for new bolts, 30-80 for head gasket (e-series = $30, au = $80), $60 odd to surface the head, + coolant etc. Thats pretty much the bare minimum required. If your head is corroded you might need welding, some places wont touch it unless you get the head pressure and crack tested (not a bad idea), also while its all apart its a good time to recon the head. Some places will recommend replacing or cleaning out the radiator, replacing hoses etc. Quite easy to blow $1500 just getting the head gasket fixed.

How much is the crack test?